Traditional Funerals vs Memorial Services
If you’re faced with planning a loved one’s final arrangements, you may be wondering whether to have a traditional funeral for them or if you should have a memorial service in their honor, instead. Your funeral home near Orlando, FL, can help to explain the differences and similarities of each type of service to you, and why you might choose one over the other. Here are some of the main ways that they compare.
To begin with, the main difference between a funeral and a memorial is the presence (or absence) of the person’s bodily remains. At a funeral service, the body of the deceased must be present and held in a casket. This can be open or closed, depending on the preferences of the family. There is often a viewing held beforehand so that those in attendance can have a chance to see the person one last time and say a final goodbye. At a memorial service, the bodily remains are not present. This results in some differences when it comes to how you can plan the services.
Because a memorial service does not require the presence of the person’s bodily remains, the timeline for planning it is not so short and urgent. A funeral must take place within a certain timeframe after the person’s death. A memorial service can happen in weeks or even months afterward. There are a few advantages to this. Mainly, you have the freedom to plan the services at a time that is most convenient for your family and friends. Perhaps you have lots of
families that live out of town, and it is easier for them to make travel plans at a future date. Maybe your loved one expressed the wish for their services to take place at a meaningful outdoor location, which would require warmer weather. Maybe you simply want to allow yourself a little more time to make the plans, so you don’t feel so rushed.
On the other hand, having a viewing and funeral is very important and even necessary for many families. Having that opportunity to see the person one last time can be a vital step in the acceptance and grieving process. For some religions and traditions, the presence of bodily remains at the final services is required. That’s why each family’s situation is different and will be handled respectfully by the funeral home, no matter what.
There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to choosing whether to hold a funeral or a memorial service for your loved one. It will all come down to what they wanted for themselves, as well as what will work best for their family. Your funeral home near Orlando, FL, is there to help you every step of the way, regardless of how you choose to plan their final services. They’ll make sure that everything goes smoothly and according to plan, and they will treat you and your family with grace and respect as you process your loss. Then, you can move forward with honoring your loved one in the best way possible.
